LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Feb. 3

As reported in a recent Open Forum page, some bike riding enthusiasts in Oakland County are disappointed that new Oakland Township Supervisor Terry Gonser is opposed to using eminent domain against two property owners who have not granted an easement on their property along Adams Road. I applaud Gonser's stance in opposing the dangerous logic used by the path's proponents and hope that the Oakland Township Board will not approve the use of eminent domain.

The proponents in the article are upset with two of the nine affected property owners, stating that they have "put the whole project in jeopardy" and that "our trail plan is for the whole township."

So what? Whatever their reason for objecting to the loss of some of their land to a path, it is of far greater merit than those wishing to take it for their pet project. Simply because the bike riding community has wanted something for years has no bearing on whether a property owner should have to surrender land to them. The implication is that these property owners are somehow selfish because they don't favor the idea, and that the riders are somehow more worthy because their idea is for the entire township. This pernicious logic must be rejected.

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Bike paths, like many things I can think of, are a good idea, but almost no good idea justifies the taking of private property through eminent domain. One person's good idea may not be another's, and vice versa. This kind of logic pits residents against one another; it is dangerous and will lead to much mischief in the future.

I suspect that the pro-path group would have objections to having their property taken for a cause with which they disagree -- such as a cellphone tower or oil rig -- regardless of whether the majority of township residents favors it. These property owners along Adams Road should be afforded the same right to their property.

Those in favor of this particular bike path should either find compensation sufficient to change the minds the property owners who are opposed to the easement, find an alternative path or find another project to pursue. Resorting to eminent domain and public pressure on the property owners is simply wrong. There is a very important principle at stake here: A government that supports one group in taking property from another, no matter how allegedly worthy the purpose, is not far removed from tyranny.